Pain Below the Knee

[MoSpur]

Does anyone know what it may be or anyone had it before? Its been going on for about six weeks or so. Its not my knee, its below my knee. I can walk and run, but it at times it hurts bad. It hurts the most when I straigten it and kick. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Marklar MM]

Do you run?

[MoSpur]

Do you run?

Yeah. I play basketball like two or three times a week and run on the treadmill a lot.

[tlongII]

Sounds like it could be shin splints. Is the pain from the front of your lower leg?

[MoSpur]

Its in the front part right below the kneecap.

[pache100]

.

[tlongII]

We need Shoog to give his opinion. He would know more than any of us. However, he might want to be compensated for his advice.

[tlongII]

Its in the front part right below the kneecap.

It could be shin splints, but the pain from that usually runs down the front of your lower leg a ways. Try Googling for shin splints and see if the symptoms match.

[SpursWoman]

Shin splints cover the entire area from the ankle to the knee, aggravated by running ... especially on an incline, and kicking doesn't really affect it. I don't think it's that.

[tlongII]

Is there any swelling?

[MoSpur]

No swelling that I know of or have noticed. I was reading up on it right now after doing a search on google. It sounds like its a meniscus tear or injury to the meniscus. I'll post some info on it.

[Kori Ellis]

Its in the front part right below the kneecap.

I had that same thing before when I had a strained meniscus. It hurt like a mofo about two inches below my kneecap.

[MoSpur]

I had that same thing before when I had a strained meniscus. It hurt like a mofo about two inches below my kneecap.

There you go Kori. I have that exact same pain, except my is bearable for the most part.

[MoSpur]

BTW Kori, how did you treat it? Any exercises you had to do?

[MoSpur]

Here is what I found,

The meniscus is easily injured by the force of rotating the knee while bearing weight. A partial or total tear may occur when a person quickly twists or rotates the upper leg while the foot stays still (for example, when dribbling a basketball around an opponent or turning to hit a tennis ball). If the tear is tiny, the meniscus stays connected to the front and back of the knee; if the tear is large, the meniscus may be left hanging by a thread of cartilage. The seriousness of a tear depends on its location and extent.

[Kori Ellis]

BTW Kori, how did you treat it? Any exercises you had to do?

Any exercises to strengthen your hamstrings help.

[thispego]

how old are you Mospur?

[2Blonde]

Depending on how low the pain is it could be patellofemoral pain syndrome. I have had it before and it hurt the area right below my knee and later around the outside of my knee. I had to do exercises to strengthen my quads to help it get better. Here is a link about it.
http://www.dynomed.com/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/knee_and_lower_leg/Patello-Femoral_pain.html

[MoSpur]

how old are you Mospur?

27 going on 28. Porque?

[MoSpur]

Any exercises to strengthen your hamstrings help.

I just read that. Thanks. It stated that riding a stationary bike is really good, walking in a pool where the water is chest high, and rising your leg while lying on your stomach are all good exercises.

[MoSpur]

Depending on how low the pain is it could be patellofemoral pain syndrome. I have had it before and it hurt the area right below my knee and later around the outside of my knee. I had to do exercises to strengthen my quads to help it get better. Here is a link about it.
http://www.dynomed.com/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/knee_and_lower_leg/Patello-Femoral_pain.html

Thanks 2Blonde

[MoSpur]

Anyone have a stationary (exercise) bike they want to get off of their hands at a very low cost?

[MoSpur]

Anyone have a stationary (exercise) bike they want to get off of their hands at a very low cost?

[ShoogarBear]

It could be a meniscus, it could also be patellar-femoral syndrome (patellar tendinitis). I have/had that, and below the kneecap was where it bothered me the most. If you have flat feet or legs that are of unequal length, you can be predisposed toward it.

It's hard to say anything conclusive without having someone examine you and check your knee for stability and range of motion.

EDIT: Damn, I see the dumb blonde already beat me to this.

[MoSpur]

Thanks Shoog. How much do I owe you?

[ShoogarBear]

Nothing, since 2Blonde already scooped me . . .

[MoSpur]

Nothing, since 2Blonde already scooped me . . .

Sweet. Anyway you can help me on the stationary bike issue?

[leemajors]

i would cut it on the basketball and the treadmill until you know what it is, you don't want it to possibly get worse.

[MoSpur]

i would cut it on the basketball and the treadmill until you know what it is, you don't want it to possibly get worse.

True. Its hard to stay off of a basketball court when most of your friends are always inviting you to play. I need to do some type of exercise though. That's why I want a stationary bike, but don't want to go to a store and buy a new one.

[ShoogarBear]

I hate stationary bikes. And treadmills and Stairmasters for that matter.

The only thing I can tolerate is the elliptical machines. I was still able to do those even when my tendinitis was acting up, but I don't think they're recommended.

[tlongII]

I recommend knee replacement surgery.

[furry_spurry]

I know someone who swims a lot more now because his got so bad from so much running.

http://www.mgh.harvard.edu/ORTHO/PatellaTendinitis.htm

[Phenomanul]

Take some glucosamine-chondroitin-MSM pills

[MoSpur]

I know someone who swims a lot more now because his got so bad from so much running.

http://www.mgh.harvard.edu/ORTHO/PatellaTendinitis.htm

Muchas gracias.

[SpursWoman]

I hate stationary bikes. And treadmills and Stairmasters for that matter.

The only thing I can tolerate is the elliptical machines. I was still able to do those even when my tendinitis was acting up, but I don't think they're recommended.


I bought a gym quality elliptical trainer a couple of years ago that still doesn't collect a lot of dust ( :) ) ... it's zero-impact so it doesn't bother my ankles, knees or hips ... and does great work on quads and hamstrings. If the exercise isn't painful in itself, I don't know how it could hurt....

[timvp]

If it hurts right below the knee cap and it hurts the most when you try to put your knee all the way straight, then it's tendinitis. If that's the case, there's not much you can do. I had it for years and it only went away when I stopped playing basketball for like six months.

You just get used to it after a while. Icing before and after can help deal with the pain.

[SpursWoman]

Nothing, since 2Blonde already scooped me . . .



Oh, man ... this is very difficult to resist ..... :drunk

[MoSpur]

If it hurts right below the knee cap and it hurts the most when you try to put your knee all the way straight, then it's tendinitis. If that's the case, there's not much you can do. I had it for years and it only went away when I stopped playing basketball for like six months.

You just get used to it after a while. Icing before and after can help deal with the pain.

I haven't done the icing thing. I think I am going to have to start doing that.

[MoSpur]

I bought a gym quality elliptical trainer a couple of years ago that still doesn't collect a lot of dust ( :) ) ... it's zero-impact so it doesn't bother my ankles, knees or hips ... and does great work on quads and hamstrings. If the exercise isn't painful in itself, I don't know how it could hurt....

So you want to give me this elliptical trainer?

[SpursWoman]

I still use it.

[MoSpur]

I still use it.


Oh. :lol and :depressed at the same time.

[ShoogarBear]

If it hurts right below the knee cap and it hurts the most when you try to put your knee all the way straight, then it's tendinitis. If that's the case, there's not much you can do. I had it for years and it only went away when I stopped playing basketball for like six months.

You just get used to it after a while. Icing before and after can help deal with the pain.
A very good, although somewhat technical source is found here: http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/patello-femoral-syndrome.html
The best thing about this article is that it is clear about what has and hasn't been proven with regards to treatment.

Rest and cross-training is necessary, but my tendinitis was significantly improved by doing stretching/strengthening exercises for the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) muscle and the iliotibial band (ITB). The pain I have now is about 10-25% of what I had before.

I got my recommendations for exercises and strengthening from a physical medicine M.D., but also found a good web page with better diagrams and explanations of the exercises. Unfortunately I can't find it now.

I also use glucosamine-chondroitin, but a recent study suggests it doesn't really work better than placebo. It's not harmful, anyway.

[SpursWoman]

Oh. :lol and :depressed at the same time.


Sorry ... I was recommending that type of exercise. :makeout :lol

[MoSpur]

A very good, although somewhat technical source is found here: http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/patello-femoral-syndrome.html
The best thing about this article is that it is clear about what has and hasn't been proven with regards to treatment.

Rest and cross-training is necessary, but my tendinitis was significantly improved by doing stretching/strengthening exercises for the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) muscle and the iliotibial band (ITB). The pain I have now is about 10-25% of what I had before.

I got my recommendations for exercises and strengthening from a physical medicine M.D., but also found a good web page with better diagrams and explanations of the exercises. Unfortunately I can't find it now.

I also use glucosamine-chondroitin, but a recent study suggests it doesn't really work better than placebo. It's not harmful, anyway.

Man Shoog. Thanks.

[MoSpur]

Sorry ... I was recommending that type of exercise. :makeout :lol

I kind of figured it out now. :lol

[ShoogarBear]

MoSpur, why don't you just join a gym?

Or, if that's too expensive, you can join the Army and get free use of a gym.

[MoSpur]

MoSpur, why don't you just join a gym?

Or, if that's too expensive, you can join the Army and get free use of a gym.

:lol

I have olympic style weights, treadmill, and a punching bag at home. Why waste the money?

[tlongII]

Check craigslist.

[2Blonde]

Thanks Shoog. How much do I owe you?
[QUOTE=ShoogarBear]Nothing, since 2Blonde already scooped me . . .[QUOTE]

Don't worry my rates are very reasonable.:lol As for treatment my doc had me wear a stabilizing brace and I did yoga twice a week. It took about six weeks for it get completely better but I started getting a lot of relief after about 3 weeks. Some of the poses you do in in yoga really strengthen your muscles because you have to hold them for a while. When your muscles are in better shape it doesn't put as much stress on the tendons and joints.

[Goliadnative]

Take some glucosamine-chondroitin-MSM pills


Tell Manny to get you some when he goes to Mexico.

[GrandeDavid]

Does anyone know what it may be or anyone had it before? Its been going on for about six weeks or so. Its not my knee, its below my knee. I can walk and run, but it at times it hurts bad. It hurts the most when I straigten it and kick. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

I just had an MRI done on my left knee at my orthopedic surgeon friend's urging. I am a marathoner, mountain biker, tennis player, weight lifter, swimmer, ballplayer, hence I'm very active.

I had soreness just below my knee which occured while training in LA in late May for a marathon. The pain has lingered up until now. We discovered it is tendonitis, which I knew all along. But, thankfully, it was not in a degenerative stage. So I'm taking some light anti-inflammatories, doing lots of swimming and laying off contact sports and running for another week.

Its also called "jumper's knee", common among basketball players.

I bet you also have some sort of swelling just below the bottom edge of your patella. It generally occurs from overuse, especially if you are over 30.

See a doc. If you wanna wait, ice it after more rigorous use and avoid leg extensions and running.

[MoSpur]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I did a lot of stretching last night and this morning. It feels pretty good today.